Reciprocating tray units



July 26, 1960 P. DU BOFF ETAL 2,946,458

RECIPROCATING TRAY UNITS Filed Jan. 27, 1960 INVENTORS F 3 PHILIP DuBOFF HARVEY MILLER ATTORNEYS rates Patent i RECIPROCATING TRAY UNITS Philip Du Bait and Harvey Miller, Kearny, N.J., assignors to Shelfmaker Products Corp, Kearny, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 4,911

8 Claims. (Cl. 211-88) This invention relates to reciprocating tray units adapted to be disposed on a shelf in a storage area whereby items can be removed to a convenient position for insertion in, or removal from, the storage area. More particularly, this invention relates to a reciprocating tray unit which can be easily installed on a shelf in an ordinary closet or cupboard.

In most all present-day kitchens, comparatively deep cabinets are provided which have shelves therein on which items to be stored are placed. Items stored toward the front of such cabinet on a shelf may be easily reached, however, items stored toward the back of such cabinet on one of the shelves are somewhat inaccessible. In order to remove an item from the back of a shelf, a housewife, or other person, must assume some inconvenient position so as to be able to reach the remote interior portion of a shelf to get the particular item wanted. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reciprocating tray unit which can be placed on a shelf whereby items can be stored on the tray and moved outwardly at any time desired to a convenient position.

The present invention has as one of its primary objects the provision of a reciprocating tray unit for use as described above, which unit can be easily installed on a shelf without the use of tools, such as screw drivers, drills or the like. More specifically, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating tra-y unit in accordance with the above object which includes a base member, a tray member reciprocally and irremovably mounted on the base member, and a plurality of pressuresensitive attaching means carried by the base member whereby the unit can be positioned on a shelf in assembled and operative form by merely exerting a small pressure on the unit so as to operate the pressure-sensitive attaching means.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating tray unit as prescribed above, (a) which unit incorporates retaining members or bars that cooperate with the base member to reciprocally mount the tray, and which additionally cooperate with the attaching means to limit movement of the tray in opposite directions; (b) which unit utilizes a planar parallelogram rod frame as the base member; (0) which unit incorporates suction cups removably secured to the base member as the pressure-sensitive attaching devices and in addition incorporates a bracket which can be utilized, if debase member to secure one end of the base member to the shelf, a second group of attaching means spaced from the first group and extending below the base member to secure the other end of the base member to the shelf, a tray member overlying the base member, first coupling means secured to the underside of the tray member near one end thereof for slidably and irremovably connecting the tray member to the rails and for cooperating with one group of the attaching devices to limit movement of the tray member with respect to the base member in one direc tion, and second coupling means secured to the underside of the tray member in spaced relation to the first coupling means, the second coupling means slidably and irremovably connecting the tray member to the rails and cooperating with the other group of attaching devices to limit movement of the tray member with respect to the base member in the opposite direction.

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those specifically set forth above will become apparent, when consideration is'given to the following detailed description of the invention. The description refers to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partially-broken-away perspective view showing a reciprocating tray unit constructed in accordance with this invention disposed on a shelf in a storage area;

Figure 2 is a detailed fragmental view of a rear corner portion of the base member of the unit shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 being taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the back end of a reciprocating tray unit such as shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 being taken when the tray is disposed in closed position.

In Figure 1 the numeral 1 has been used to designate a storage area having a shelf 2 supported therein. The storage area 1 may be within a cabinet, cupboard or the like, such as are found in an ordinary home. Disposed on the shelf 2 is a reciprocating tray unit 4 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The unit 4 comprises a base member 6, having rails. 8 and 10 extending along opposite sides thereof. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base member 6 is a planar parallelogram rod frame which is formed from a single rod bent to the prescribed shape, and having the ends thereof joined by a weld or other suitable connection asat point 9.

Carried at the end 12 of the base member 6 is a first group of attaching means 14 and 16 which extend below the base member and serve to secure that end of the basemember to the shelf. Similarly, a second group of attaching means 18 and 20 are secured to the base member at the front end of the base member 6 and extend below the base member to secure the front end of the base member to the shelf.

A tray member 22 is disposed in overlying relation to the base member and is reciprocally mounted on the base member by a first coupling means 24 and second coupling means 26. The coupling means 24 and 26 comprise respectively retaining bars 28 and 30 extending between opposite sides of the base member 6 below the rails 8 and 10. Each of the retaining bars has end portions 32, which, pass over and around the sides of the rails and are secured to the underside of the tray member by a weld or other suitable means. coupled to the base member and reciprocal thereon. One of the retaining bars, namely bar 28, is secured to the tray member near one end thereof, and the other retaining bar, namely bar 30, is secured to the tray member in.

spaced relation to bar 28 and toward the front end of the tray member. The disposition of the retaining'bars in spaced relation is important, as discussed in more detail Thus, the tray member is irremovably below, because the retaining bars cooperate with the attaching devices to limit movement of the tray member in opposite directions.

As shown in Figure 2, the attaching devices comprise a suction cup 34 having a threaded shaft 36 extending upwardly therefrom. The shaft 36 cooperates with a threaded bore 38 in a lug 40, and lug 40 is secured to the base member also by a weld or other suitable means. Each of the attaching devices is similarly constructed, and similarly connected with the base member. Thus, the description of attaching means 16 in Figure 2 will serve to describe the construction of the other attaching means 14, 18, and 20.

By referring again to Figure 1, it will be noted that the reciprocating tray unit also includes a bracket 42 having a U-shaped central portion 44 with feet 46 projecting from either side of the central portion. The bracket is adapted to pass over the end bar 12 of the base member 6 for securing the base member permanently to a shelf by means of screws passing through suitable apertures in the feet 46.

The bracket 42 is also shown in Figure 2 which presents the rear portion of the base member when the suction cup 34 has not been depressed. Figure l, on the other hand, presents the unit attached to a self with the suction cups depressed, so that the feet 46 of the bracket 42 engage the shelf.

The manner in which the retaining bars, or coupling means, cooperate with the attaching devices to limit movement of the tray member can best be understood by reference to Figure 3. In that figure, the numeral 4 designates the tray, the numeral 6 designates the base member, and the numerals 14 and. 16 designate the attaching devices, just as such numerals designate the corresponding components in Figure 1. The coupling means 24 in the form of a retaining bar 28 is affixed to the bottom of the tray member 4 as at points 48, 50, 52 and 54. The end portions 32 of the retaining bar pass over and around the outside of rails #8 and 10. Thus, when the tray is moved from the position shown in *Figure 1 toward the rear wall 3 of storage area 1, the retaining bar 28 eventually engages the threaded shafts 36 which project upwardly from the suction cups 34. Further movement of the tray toward the wall 3 is thus prevented. Accordingly, the coupling means 24 disposed near the back end of the tray member serves two functions, name- 1y, (a) the function of slidably and irremovably connecting the tray member with the rails of the base member, and (b) the function of cooperating with the attaching means to limit movement of the tray member in one direction.

Similarly, the coupling means 26 in the form of retaining'bar 30 (Figure 1) serves to slidably and irremovably connect the tray member with the rails, and also serves to limit forward movement of the tray member by cooperating with the attaching devices 18 and 20 upon forward movement of the tray member, just as bar 28 cooperates with the attaching devices 14 and 16 to limit rearward movement of the tray member.

The retaining bar 28, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises an elongated ring which not only performs the aforestated functions, but also serves to support the parallel rods 56 which form the bottom of the tray member 4. The tray member 4, as is apparent, is preferably a wire basket having the rods 56 forming the bottom and ends, and having similar rods forming the sides, however, it should be understood that any suitable form of tray member may be incorporated to provide a reciprocating tray unit in accordance with the teachings of this invention. It should also apparent that the invention provides a reciprocating tray unit which can be easily installed merely by exerting a small pressure on the unit to operate the pressure-sensitive suction cups which serve as means for attaching the unitto a shelf. Although it is not essential thata bracket such as that designated by numeral 42 be utilized, in some instances it may be desired.

The retaining bar 28 is positioned inwardly of the back end 23 of the tray member 22 so that the back end 23 is disposed behind the rear rod member =12 of the base member when the tray member is moved to closed position. The distance between the back end 23 and the retaining bar. 28 is preferably suificient to provide for centering of the tray member over the base member when the tray member is moved to closed position.

The retaining bar 349 which is spaced from the bar 28 toward the front end 25 of tray member 22, serves to limit forward movement of the tray as discussed l1ereinabove. Thus, the distance between the front end 25 of tray member 22 and theretaining bar 34 is equal to the distance through which opening movement is desired. Thus, if it is desired to allow tray member 22 to slide forward by a distance equal to half its length, then retaining bar 30 would be positioned centrally between the ends 23 and 25 of the tray member. However, it should be understood that any opening distance may be provided in the unit by adjusting the position of retaining bar 30.

Although extra support bars have not been referred to hereinabove, it should be understood that the same can be incorporated in the unit provided by the invention if desired. For example, as shown in Figure 3, a bar such as that designated by numeral 58 can be affixed to the bottom of the tray member and the end portions of the retaining bar 28 to provide support for the bottom of the tray member as well as for the retaining bar.

After reading the foregoing description of the invention, it will be realized that the objects set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved. Accordingly, we claim:

1. A reciprocating tray unit adapted to be disposed on a shelf in a storage area whereby items can be moved to a convenient position for insertion in, or removal from, the storage area, said unit comprising a base member having rails extending along opposite sides thereof, a first group of attaching means extending from the underside of said base member to secure one end of said base member to the shelf, a second group of attaching means spaced from said first group and extending from the underside of said base member to secure the other end of said base member to said shelf, a tray member overlying said base member, and at least two retaining bars extending between opposite sides of said base member below said rails, and having end portions passing over and around the outside of said rails, one of said retaining bars being secured to the underside of said tray member near one end thereof, the other of said retaining bars being secured to the underside of said tray member in spaced relation to said one retaining bar toward the other end of said tray member whereby said tray member is irremovably coupled to said base member and reciprocal thereon, said one retaining bar secured to said tray member near one end thereof cooperating with one of said groups of attaching means to limit movement of said tray member in one direction, and said other retaining bar secured to said tray member cooperating with the other group of attaching means to limit movement of said tray member in the direction opposite to said one direction.

2. A reciprocating tray unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a planar parallelogram rod frame.

3. A reciprocating tray unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second groups of attaching means comprise a plurality of suction cups removably secured to said parallelogram rod frame at opposite ends thereof.

4. A reciprocating tray unit as defined in claim 3 and further including a bracket having a U-shaped central portion adapted to fit over one end of said frame and feet extending from either side of said central portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the shelf.

5. A reciprocating tray unit as defined in claimd wherein said tray member comprises a wire basket having rods forming at least the bottom thereof, and wherein said retaining bars are affixed to said rods.

6. A reciprocating tray unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprise suction cups.

7. A- reciprocating tray unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said tray member comprises a Wire basket having parallel rods forming the bottom thereof, and wherein said other retaining bar comprises an elongated ring affixed to, and supporting, said rods.

8. A reciprocating tray unit adapted to be disposed on a shelf in a storage area whereby items can be moved to a convenient position for insertion in, or removal from, the storage area, said unit comprising a base member having rails extending along opposite sides thereof, two groups of pressure-sensitive attaching devices extending from the underside of said base member at opposite ends thereof for securing said base member in position on the shelf, a tray member overlying said base member, first coupling means secured to the underside of said tray member near one end thereof for slidably and irremov-ably connecting said tray member to said rails and for cooperating with one group of said attaching devices to limit movement of said tray member with respect to said base member in one direction, and second coupling means secured to the underside of said tray member in spaced relation to said first coupling means, said second coupling means slidably and 'irremovably connecting said tray member to said rails and cooperating with the other group of attaching devices to limit movement of said tray member with respect to said base member in a direction opposite to said one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,060 Thomas Jan. 27, 1903 827,050 Weston July 24, 1906 1,600,699 Parke Sept. 21, 1926 Williams July 30, 1935 

